How the spanish language destroys all my jokes

So, if you missed the last post, or you have been living in a social-network- free zone, you don't know that Chavo and I are engaged.

But yeah, we are. So this is a disclaimer to my post that yes, I do love him. His ability to destroy most of my jokes does not take away from the fact that I do love him.

Anyways:

Something that one does not always think about when considering spending time with someone whose first language is not your own is the complete inability to tell jokes right. Why? Because sometimes jokes are puns. Puns don't translate. Ever. Like knock knock jokes.

Knock knock.
Who's there?
Police.
Police who?
Police open the door, its cold out here!!!

Yeah, that will not translate. Here's how you would tell a knock knock joke to someone who knows english, but its not their first language.

Knock knock
Uhhh... Who's there?
Cash.
Cash who?
No, thanks, but I would like some peanuts... You know. Because cashews.. Haha! Its a nut! But he doesn't want cashews, he wants peanuts!
But I didn't say cashew. I said "Cash who?"
But its a pun! Its funny, right?
Oh, yeah, hilarious... Ha. Ha. Ha.
Shut up.

Its just not fair! Its not his fault that the jokes aren't funny when translated! Jokes aren't funny anymore when you have to explain why its funny. Sometimes people are kind enough to laugh. But its not funny. We both know it. We will just keep up the niceties so that he doesn't feel bad for not laughing at my jokes, and so I don't feel bad because I just told a joke that's not even funny in english, much less in spanish.

I don't get jokes in spanish either. And we get to play the whole charade as well. It takes a very special kind of joke to translate.

Yes, this is a fairly short blog. So I'll leave you with a joke that does translate:

Gary and Pat were having some problems at home and were giving each other the "silent treatment." But then Gary realized that he would need his redhead to wake him at 5:00 am for an early morning drive with some pals to a golf match.

Not wanting to be the first to break the silence (and so lose the "war"), he wrote on a piece of paper, "Please wake me at 5:00 am." The next morning, Gary woke up, only to discover it was 9:00 am and that his friends would have left for the golf course without him.

Furious, he was about to go and see why his wife hadn't awakened him when he noticed a piece of paper by the bed. The paper said, "It is 5:00 am.

Wake up."

Comprometidos!

That's right, everyone. I'm engaged!

Chavo and I are pretty stoked about it. Well, duh. Its been a really awesome week.

We got back into the United States on a Friday. And sure enough, I survived 7 weeks and 2 days in Guatemala, but less than 24 hours of being in the United States, I ended up in the emergency room. I'm fine, and it was a really dumb thing. Chavo and I were hanging out with my bestie at the lake, swimming and tubing and such. We were getting out of the lake, onto the dock, and I fell on the boat motor and cut my leg. It wasn't a big cut, but I fell in the lake, so we were afraid my leg was going to turn green and fall off. And that's not fun.

So I got a nice ride to the hospital. I got 3 staples in my leg, and Chavo didn't even pass out! I was so proud. He stayed in the room the whole time, even when I said a few not-so-nice words about the... lovely... wonderful... ER guy.

Anywhoodles, on Sunday, I was not going to let that cut defeat me. So I played in the orchestra the next morning. I hadn't showered, and I probably shouldn't have done it. But oh well, if you could see my face, you would see just how little I care about that right now. Hah!

Monday morning, after having showered and feeling a lot better, Chavo and I went to the park. I don't know who all is reading from Louisiana, but it is HOT! So we went early in the morning, before it hit 90 degrees. We walked around for just a little while before I wanted to go play on the playground. There weren't any kids around to get in my way of good playground fun, so I was climbing all over it!

We stopped playing on the slide long enough to admire the beautiful day, and Chavo got down on one knee. I know he asked if I wanted to be Mrs. Cherry Garcia (a nickname that one of my very good friends gave me) and I said absolutely. He said a bunch of other things that neither of us really remember, and he put the ring on my finger. And he did good! The ring is beautiful!!!

After we left the park, we told the whole family and a few friends. The next day, we booked the church and changed our facebook status (Hahaha!) and Wednesday, Mom and I bought the dress! And Thursday.. who are you kidding, we slept!!! All day long. It was glorious.

Its been an amazing last 10 days and a truely unforgettable summer. Looking forward to what the next 10 months have to offer as well. June 16, 2012! Let's rock this chiquita banana!